Does anybody know about this program? A friend of a friend of a friend is asking whether it's safe for her high-school-aged daughter to participate in the Shaxi Village volunteer program through them. I said it's probably safe but it looks like you're paying an arm and a leg for the pleasure of doing physical labor? Anyway if anybody has had any firsthand experience with this organization and/or in this village, I'd like to know about it. Thanks!

Oops, I forgot to give the link to the program:
www.rusticpathways.com/china/shaxi.php

I'm not familiar with this organization, but some things to think about:

Their prices are quite high. The domestic airfare looks alright... but the program costs are obviously not just covering food and housing. If it were me, I'd find out where this money goes - does it fund only the continuation/expansion of the project, or are there investors making money without working? I guess it's all personal, whether or not you'd be OK with funding an investor.

It also seems a bit strange that this program sends people to this area regularly. This is bad because locals may come to rely on these services, lessening pressure on the local government organs to do their job. Personally, I'd rather do work in an area that receives less. I get just a touch of a feeling that someone is making big bucks here. As long as you're OK with that, then go ahead.

As far as safety, hopefully someone else here has worked with them and can give you more info. Best of luck.

Hi Magentalisted,

I think you are right; this is nothing but one big scam. Personally, I don't have firsthand experience with this organization. But just reading the trip details and having to pay to do community works tells you this is a scam, Mr. Wu and Rustic Pathways are making good money from this. I have been living in Kunming for 5 years now. There are volunteer work programs to help the villages in the countryside, and usually the organizations provide room and board. In rare case, the organization asked for small amount money for room and board. But asking each person to pay $1,295 to do community work, where actually is this money going?
Let just look at the "Trip Details", it is a 10 days starting from US. A direct flight from San Francisco to Hong Kong is 14 1/2 hours. From Hong Kong airport, you have to take a bus to Shenzhen airport (the bus trip will take half a day to the airport because from HK to Shenzhen airport, you have to across the Chinese border) to fly to Kunming (Shenzhen to Kunming take 2 1/2 to 3 hours flight). From Kunming to Shaxi Village, it will take another 8-10 hours bus ride. So base on the schedule of the 10 days trip, the earliest arrivial to Shazi village from US is on the 3rd day of the trip, if you are lucky enough. I think the most; your friend's kid will spend about 4 days in village before start heading back to US.
About the "$685 Internal Air" (Domestic flight?), any flight traveling to/from from Hong Kong airport to/from any cities in the main land China, it is consider an international flight, not domestic flight. The only way, to fly domestic near Hong Kong is to travel into the city of Shenzhen. Flights leaving from Shenzhen to/from Kunming costs about $100 to S200 each way depending on the time of the year. Flights leaving/to from Hong Kong, do cost more, some time twice the cost from Shenzhen. I think your friend's needs to check with this organization which airports are they using Shenzhen airport or Hong Kong airport. In China, some companies like to mislead their customers to which airports they are using. If they are using Shenzhen airport, not only your friend's friend will spend more money, but also spending more time traveling (bus) from one airport (international) to next airport (domestic). It will take about half day.

Best regard,
David

Rustic Pathways is a reputable organization that has been the pioneer in high school travel since 1983. As the Director for China, I appreciate the diverse views in this post and am happy to respond on all counts; however, if you would like to learn more about us, check out all the great info we have on the About Us homepage (www.rusticpathways.com/extra/aboutus.php). Families who would like to contact other families that have sent their children on our programs before can directly e-mail me, rick@rusticpathways.com, to obtain one.

First and foremost, full disclosure, we are a for-profit company that specializes in bringing students out of the proverbial bubble and mentoring them on how to share cultures. Some in this forum have asked "Why is the price so high or why is there even a price at all?" In response to that, that price includes ground transportation, food, accommodations, supplies for the community service activities, money to the local community center to hire a local Bai Minority band to play and each portion of the student's payment goes to a large donation that we present to the community during the final week. Beyond that, there is also money to pay for our Western staff (All are certified in First Aid/CPR and some are EMTs or WFR certified), payment for the cooks (all local staff), administration fees and Mr. Wu's (the crucial member of all of this) salary. The rest goes into a fund that we are building so that we can make an investment into an Early Childhood Learning Center within the next 5 years.

Internal Flights: Our flight pattern is as follows: Hong Kong-Kunming-Lijiang (3 hour bus ride to Shaxi) -- 6 days, 5 nights in Shaxi, 1 Day 1 Night in Dali, (4 Hour Bus Ride to Kunming) Kunming - Hong Kong. One post made an astute point that the Hong Kong - Mainland flights are called International but for the sake of not making political statements or causing unneeded confusion, they are titled Domestic Flights. On our cross-Pacific flight, we have a Rustic Pathways Staff member on our flights, a Hong Kong Airport Coordinator to help with the transition, a Kunming Airport Coordinator to make sure everything is going smoothly and Mr. Wu waiting for them at the Lijiang Airport.

Safety: Rustic Pathways has been operating for over 26 years (4th in China) and besides quality of our programs, safety is our top priority. This can be seen from CPR/First Aid Staff Members to flight leaders, from Hot Sheets we ask you to fill out that let us know any of your allergies/food preferences and willingness to provide reference sheets.

Investor: There are no outside investors, this was started by David Venning in 1983 as The Great Australian Dingo Factory and he has grown it since. David, myself and the entire Rustic team are dedicated to the communities we work in and to fostering new understanding in the youth who travel to them. The money we make almost always goes back into the communities that we have been invited into.

Relying on Outside Aid: I am very much aware of this issue and that beyond Rustics' initiative, I am an active member of a non-for-profit program, chaired by a Chinese teacher at Dali University to provide safe classrooms in the rural areas of Jianchuan County. Furthermore, after we spent our first Summer in Shaxi (Painted Classrooms, Donated New Desks and Taught English at the local Primary School), the government created a new initiative to build a brand new primary school for the students. We work very well with the local government and appreciate their support. Mr. Wu, himself, used to work for the local county government and our relationship with the Headmaster and local government offices could not be stronger. This is a joint effort and we are happy to be invited back each year.

Should any of you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to post it or e-mail me back at rick@rusticpathways.com. I have personally lived in China for over 3 years now and currently call Dali home, I welcome your input.

I would not call this project a scam. However, the price seems definitely too high. Domestic flight prices are as well. Such programs are a good experience for kids, I agree. I had the chance to work in a Summer Camp in the States a long time ago and it was an unforgettable cultural experience. That camp lasted for 10 weeks. Your friend should ask herself what cultural experience can her kid get in 7 days? Not to mention flying half way around the world for this? Furthermore there are places that are more in need for funds than Shaxi. Shaxi has already seen a remarkable amount of financial and technical support by the Swiss Government. Now that the Swiss pull out, the local officials probably look for other foreign source for income - that is understandable. Of course this company works very well with the local government. That is not surprising as long as all the local government officials and their "associates" get their shares! Having said this I would also be thinking twice about the "large donnation to the local community" as RP puts it. What happens to this money is out of their control. But then again: It is a profit organisation after all....and all their hard work should not be for free!